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Russia and Georgia sign new ceasefire agreement

09 September 2008 07:54 (UTC +04:00)

Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev first signed the agreement. After the six-hour talks in Moscow both presidents told journalists that one more successful step was made toward the settlement of the conflict. The amendments to the agreement are below:

1) Withdrawal of the troops

Russian peacekeeping forces have to leave five posts in the territory between Poti and Senaki within seven days maximum. Russia makes this step entrusting to the Georgiaâ€™s guarantee not to use force against Abkhazia.

Russian peacekeeping forces have to depart for the previous line of contact in the territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. They will move within 10 days after that 200 EU observers arrive in area.

Georgian forces have to return to their previous places of dislocation until October 1.

2) Mechanisms of international observation

UN observation mission will continue to fulfill its mandate and Russian peacekeepers will be replaced by the international observers, including 200 EU observers in the border regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The European Union, as a guarantee of non-use of force, will establish the observation mission in a short time and carry out it.

3) International discussions

According to Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, the international discussions, which had to start on August 12, will take place on October 15 in Geneva. Preparation for the discussions will begin in September. The discussions will be dedicated to the issues related to the ways of stability and security in the region, solution of refugee and IDP problems, the issues raised on the initiative of the sides.

After the signing ceremony, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev told journalists that his country received serious guarantee from the European Union and its chairman French President Nicolas Sarkozy that Georgia will not use force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia.